OCTOBER TRIVIA: In Irish, the month is Deireadh Fómhair, the end of harvest-time. Whereas in the Turkic languages, it's Ekim, the sowing of wheat. But the 'Octo' comes from eight, which is paradoxical (c.f. Sept, Novo, Deco) only when you don't begin counting from Martius, the vernal equinox. The month of Janus, god of doorways and gateways, began to come first only later as consuls were chosen then.

As to the first day of the month, it's the Kalends, origin of calendar, and the day on which debts come due.